The word "attorn are" may seem confusing at first glance, especially in terms of its spelling. However, when broken down phonetically using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), it becomes much clearer. "Attorn" is pronounced as /əˈtɔrn/, with the emphasis on the second syllable, and means to transfer or assign a legal obligation or property. "Are" is pronounced as /ɑ:r/ and is a form of the verb "to be." Together, "attorn are" can be interpreted to mean the act of transferring ownership or property rights.
The term "attorn" originates from Old French, specifically from the word "atorner", which means "to turn over" or "to assign". In legal context, "attorn" referred to the act of transferring or assigning one's rights or obligations to another. Over time, the phrase "attorn are" emerged, where "are" simply meant "to". Hence, "attorn are" came to signify the act of transferring one's rights to another. Ultimately, this expression evolved into the modern legal term "attorn", which is used to describe the process of a tenant forming a new relationship with a new landlord after the sale or transfer of a property.